The county contended Mychajliw violated county policies by sending his staff home without approval from either the county executive or a personnel or labor commissioner. The county does not allow employees to work from home without explicit authorization from the county executive regarding a state of emergency or "emergency situation."

The comptroller then threatened to sue the county, and the Civil Service Employees Association Local 815 said the union would file a grievance to secure pay for the affected employees.

CSEA President Denise Szymura said it was unfair for employees to be punished for following their supervisor's instructions.

A bedbug captured in tape on March 10 in the Erie County Comptroller's Office.

In response, the county signed an agreement with CSEA Monday in which Poloncarz retroactively declared an "emergency condition" on March 10, and personnel and labor relations commissioners retroactively authorized employees to be paid as working "offsite."

In exchange, the union agreed not to file a grievance in the matter.

In an email to employees, Bryan Fiume, the comptroller's chief of staff, wrote, "The Comptroller is pleased to learn that you will be paid, and happy this situation is behind us. Going forward, we will continue to press the administration for a cleaner and safer work environment because you deserve it."

Administrators with the Department of Buildings and Grounds say about 10 bedbugs have been spotted on different floors of the Rath Building over the past several months, but are likely being carried into the building by visitors, not breeding within the building.

So far, the county said it has spent $2,300 treating all of the areas where bedbugs have been seen.

Sandra Tan – Sandra Tan primarily covers stories related to Erie County government. A Buffalo News staff reporter since 2000, she previously covered Buffalo Public Schools, Amherst and other communities. She is particularly interested in shedding light on issues and people that tell us something important about how we live. email: stan@buffnews.com